A Guide for Assessing the Potential Impacts on Ecosystems of Leakage from CO2 Storage Sites

Jonathan Pearce (1) , Dave Jones (1) , Jerry Blackford (2) , Stanley Beaubien (3) , Edwin Foekema (4) , Vassiliki Gemeni (5) , Karen Kirk (1) , Julie Lions (6) , Richard Metcalfe (7) , Christophe Moni (8) , Karon Smith (9) , Michael Stevens , Julie West (1) , Fotini Ziogou (5)

1 BGS - British Geological Survey
2 PML - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
3 UNIROMA - Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" = Sapienza University [Rome]
4 IMARES
5 CERTH - Centre for Research and Technology Hellas
6 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
7 Quintessa Ltd
8 Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research
9 UON - University of Nottingham, UK

Evidence to date indicates that leakage is of low probability if site selection, characterisation and storage project design are undertaken correctly. In Europe, the Storage Directive (EC, 2009) provides a legislative framework, implemented by Member States, which requires appropriate project design to ensure the storage of CO 2 is permanent and safe. However, it is incumbent on storage site operators to demonstrate an understanding of the potential impacts on surface ecosystems should a leak occur. The RISCS (Research into Impacts and Safety in CO 2 Storage) project has produced a Guide to potential impacts of leakage from CO 2 storage (the 'Guide'). RISCS assessed the potential effects of CO 2 leakage from geological storage on both onshore and offshore near-surface ecosystems and on potable ground water. This assessment was achieved through laboratory and field experiments, through observations at sites of natural CO 2 seepage and through numerical simulations. The Guide summarises some of the key findings of the project. The Guide provides information on the best approaches to evaluate potential impacts of hypothetical leakage from CO 2 storage sites and to provide guidance on appraising these impacts. This information will be relevant to regulators and operators in particular, but also to other stakeholders who are concerned with CO 2 storage, such as national and local governments, and members of the public.

Keywords: Leakage; ecosystem impacts; CO2 storage; risk assessment

Domains: Earth Sciences

Jonathan Pearce, Dave Jones, Jerry Blackford, Stanley Beaubien, Edwin Foekema, et al.. A Guide for Assessing the Potential Impacts on Ecosystems of Leakage from CO2 Storage Sites. Energy Procedia, 2014, 63, pp.3242 - 3252. ⟨10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.351⟩. ⟨hal-03663814⟩